NSW Election 2023: Public transport cap dropped to give workers more free trips

Public transport users will travel free on buses, ferries and trains after hitting a reduced weekly travel cap of $40 as part of a Coalition cost-of-living measure that will save up to $500 a year.

Public transport commuters will be able to travel on ferries, trains, buses, metro and light rail services as many times as they like without paying more than $40 a week, with the Coalition to slash the weekly travel cap.

Under the plan, the weekly adult Opal cap will be cut from $50 to $40, while the cap for concession holders will be cut from $25 to $20.

Families in Western Sydney are expected to benefit the most.

The Coalition calculates the cost-of-living measure will save the average commuter up to $480 a year, with about 165,000 adults reaching the $40 cap in a given week.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the cap was being slashed in recognition of the “significant” pressures on household budgets.

“We recognise there are significant household budget pressures right now and that is why we will deliver significant cost relief for commuters,” he said.

“We will slash the weekly caps on public transport fares by 20 per cent, putting more money back in the pockets of hard working families.

Dominic Perrottet has announced the cap on public transport travel will be lowered from $50 to $40 a week.

“For the average commuter who hits the cap every week and works 11 months of the year, this could provide up to $480 in transport cost relief.

“Commuters will be able to travel across the entire transport network — on our ferries, trains, metro and light rail services — as many times as they like without paying more than $40 a week, while students and concession holders will only pay $20 a week.”

The eleventh-hour cost-of-living measure comes ahead of a final week Coalition rally in the marginal seat of Penrith on Sunday, with Mr Perrottet to be joined by former prime minister John Howard as he makes his final pitch to voters.

Mr Perrottet said Western Sydney families were expected to save the most from the slashed cap, with commuters travelling from Penrith to the city by train expected to now hit the cap on Wednesday morning instead of Thursday, saving them a day of fares.

Transport and Western Sydney Minister David Elliott said the travel discount would come into effect from May this year should voters re-elect a Coalition government.

“For a family of two adults and two kids, this could mean an annual saving of nearly $1400 a year in the household budget,” he said.

The Adult Opal card commuters’ saving of $10 a week or $480 a year is based on 48 weeks of travel.

The Child/Youth and Concession weekly Opal cap reduction from the current $25 cap to $20 would save $5 a week or $200 a year, based on 40 weeks travel for school/tertiary education.

The new travel caps would apply from May 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.

They would apply when travelling with an Opal card, credit card, debit card or a linked device.

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